Woman Shot In The Head By This 13-Year-Old Survives, Then Gets Chilling Phone Call From Prison

A woman living in Tampa, Florida went out for some fun when a bullet changed her life forever. Despite the damage that the bullet did, she was somehow able to find forgiveness in her heart. She became her shooter's friend and biggest advocate and eventually helped free him.

Debbie Baigrie had just had her second child and was going out for the first time. She was walking home when someone walked up behind her and screamed, "Give it up!"

Baigrie turned around and was stricken with terror when she faced a man pointing a gun at her head. He pulled the trigger and shot her in the head, then ran.

Baigrie was lucky. The bullet destroyed her jaw, bottom teeth, and tongue, but she survived. It would be a long road and many surgeries to recovery, but she was grateful to be alive.

The young mother of two was shocked to find out that the 'man' who shot her was only 13-years-old. A year after the incident, when Baigrie was still recovering, she got a startling phone call. It was Ian Manuel, the boy who shot her.

“Miss Baigrie, I am so sorry for shooting you and I hope you can forgive me. I want to wish you and your family a merry Christmas.”

Manuel began writing to Baigrie and expressed tremendous guilt and remorse. He was given a sentence of life in prison before his life had even really begun. Baigrie started writing back, and wondered if she could help him get a second chance at life.

Baigrie's recovery took about 10 years, and in all that time she stayed in contact with Manuel. In time, she started working with youth justice advocacy groups to advocate for his release. When the Supreme Court ruled life sentences for minors were invalid in 2010, Baigrie helped Manual eventually get released.

Now 39 years old, Manuel had no one left. What little family he had died in the years he spent in prison. When he was released, Baigrie was there for him.

A lot of people don't understand how a woman can forgive someone who nearly killed her, but she considers Manuel a friend. And Manuel is grateful for his second chance.